My wife Sharon and I have been married for 20 wonderful years. We raised our daughter Angie, who’s now attending her first year of College. Angie moving out, and 3 hours away, has made our lives much simpler. No longer are we attending soccer games or other school activities.

For myself, work has lightened up and I find I have more time to spend at home. The long hours spent in the office working late, to get the company where it is today has paid off. My boss has noticed my devotion, and now I can sit comfortably in my corner office and be the lead on projects.

Sharon’s job of 9 years seems to be on track. She manages a women’s boutique clothing store one of 17 such stores scattered throughout several counties. When she first began, there were only 11 stores, and she managed their largest and most successful. Once our daughter moved away to College, she began spending more time at work. Sometimes she would work 12 hour days, and at least once a month she would attend either a training session, or a buying trip. Her bosses were taking advantage of her experience, and a recent raise seemed to have supported it.

All in all, we were happy and occasionally talked about vacations, but usually they would end up being long weekends. Since our daughter left, we’ve only gotten away once for 4 days, and Sharon would often end up on the phone with Corporate while I went sightseeing alone.

Things took a turn during the holidays. Angie came home for Christmas break and my office closed for 2 weeks. Being the busiest time of the year for retail, Sharon ended up working more hours than normal. Angie and I kept ourselves busy decorating and shopping. The week before Christmas Sharon’s company had their annual Christmas party. I’ve always attended the party with Sharon, and knew the owners and some of the other higher-ups. The morning of the party Sharon surprised me by giving me an out, saying that I didn’t need to attend and that she could go alone. I considered it, but I hadn’t missed one yet, and I didn’t want her bosses to take it wrong, so I told her I would go. I wore my suit and Sharon wore an evening gown and we both looked great. We mingled and danced, drank champagne and had a good time for the first hour.

At one point Sharon was asked away to meet with one of the suppliers. I noticed the General Manager whom I hadn’t spoken with yet, and walked over to say hello. He and his wife are our age and we’ve gone to dinner together a few times over the years. We spoke for a few minutes catching up on our kids and what they’re up to. I mentioned Sharon’s raise and how she’d been working late, and those weekend training and buying trips. I couldn’t help but notice a puzzled look on his face, so I reiterated the monthly trips and training sessions. He seemed confused, and even said, “What trips”. His wife immediately grabbed his arm, basically pulling him away saying they needed to hurry and speak with someone whom I didn’t recognize. They quickly excused themselves and walked away. I stood slightly baffled, especially when they stopped across the room where she began telling him something which made him look in my direction several times.

I wondered if maybe he wasn’t privy to everything my wife does, but I couldn’t imagine how he didn’t know about the trips. Especially with Sharon’s New York buying trip coming up January 5th. I brushed it off and decided he just didn’t understand what I was talking about.

I stood alone near the bar, people watching and sipping a gin and tonic. I saw Sharon across the room standing with three other people who were smiling and talking. I also noticed Sharon kept looking toward another group of people. I looked that direction but couldn’t figure out exactly who she was looking at. One thing I did notice that concerned me was when Sharon scanned across the room and saw me, she quickly looked back to those she was speaking with. It was as if she didn’t want to make eye contact with me.

I waited a few minutes before making my way across the room towards her. When I approached she hadn’t noticed me until one of the others greeted me. Even then I couldn’t help but notice my wife didn’t acknowledge me, even after I had said hello to everyone. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew something was off.

Sharon eventually acknowledged me and included me in the conversation. I marked it up to maybe a tense subject before I arrived, and perhaps I saved her from an uncomfortable situation. Regardless, she seemed fine now.

It wasn’t much longer before Sharon wanted to leave. I was surprised since we had only been there about an hour and a half, and most of the people had arrived in the last 20 minutes. I had no problem leaving, since I only knew a handful of her co-workers. She excused herself to say bye to a few of them while I waited near the exit. I saw her speaking with a few of her bosses and others before finally joining me at the exit.

It was only 8 pm as we drove away from the party. I remember other parties where it would be closer to 11pm before leaving. Sharon was quiet through the whole journey back home, looking out the passenger window. I couldn’t figure out what was different tonight. Being dressed up, and still early, I looked towards Sharon, and asked...

“Hey, since we’re all dressed up, what do you say we stop somewhere for a drink, and maybe more dancing?”

Without even looking in my direction, Sharon replied...

“No, I just want to go home and unwind.”

“Oh ... Ok” I responded.

I drove home deep in thought. Something was up, but what? As soon as we got home Sharon spoke briefly with Angie, then went to change. After she left, I asked Angie...

“Has your mother said if something’s up, or if anything is bothering her?”

Angie gave me a funny look, and asked...

“No, why?”

I answered...

“I don’t know; she just seems distant tonight.”

Angie replied... “She seemed the same to me. I did not notice anything different in her.”

“Oh, ok, maybe it’s just my imagination.” I responded.

Angie and I talked a little longer, then I decided to go change. By now it was close to 9pm. As soon as I walked into the bedroom I saw Sharon sitting on her side of the bed still dressed. She noticed me and quickly put her phone down. It had been long enough for her to have changed, but obviously she had immediately gotten on her phone. I walked into the closet and changed, while she waited for me to come out. I was wearing my pajamas and a robe. Once again she put her phone down. As I walked across the room she stood up, grabbed her phone and walked into the closet.

Our bedroom is quite large with a sitting area on one end with two chairs facing an entertainment center. We often sit watching our favorite comedy shows, or at least we used to. The king-size bed and matching bedroom set, occupy the rest of the bedroom.

I walked to my chair, sat down and turned the TV on to the local news. It was probably 10 minutes before Sharon came out of the closet. She started walking to the bedroom door, and I asked...

“Hon, can we talk for a minute?”

She paused, thought for a moment, and without even looking at me, answered...

“Not tonight Roger, I’m tired.”

She continued walking toward the door, and I asked...

“is everything ok? You seemed preoccupied and distant”

“Sure. everything’s fine.” she answered, continuing to walk towards the door.

She was out the door before I could respond. I sat there thinking about tonight and wondering what was different. Why am I suddenly feeling like something is off with Sharon? I wondered if I had said or done anything to justify her avoidance of me. I couldn’t come up with a reason, and thought things were going well lately.

Everything seemed to have started today at the party. She had out of the blue told me I didn’t have to go, but I hadn’t considered not going, so maybe she didn’t really want me to go. Hmm, why wouldn’t she want me there when every other Christmas party I was expected to attend. I began going over the party trying to remember if anything happened. I couldn’t think of anything, other than Sharon seeming distant, and the oddity of the District Manager seemingly not knowing about her travels. The more I thought about it, small details came to mind. She wasn’t making eye contact with me, and as a matter of fact, she hasn’t been for quite some time. Maybe this started before tonight and I hadn’t noticed. The more I thought about it, the more were the small changes that I started to recollect. I sat up with an epiphany. Sharon had been acting strangely for at least 5 months, going back to about the same time Angie moved on campus. So was it due to our daughter moving out?

I felt lightheaded, and sat wondering how I hadn’t noticed the changes before now. I decided not to jump to any conclusions, but pay more attention to the small details, hoping it’s short lived.

I turned off the TV, got up and walked into the kitchen where Sharon and Angie were sitting at the island. Angie was talking about a guy she met, and trying to decide if he was worth pursuing. It seemed funny, but I know how she was with her High School boyfriends. Sharon seemed normal and I hoped things were better. I sat and joined in the conversation, only interjecting when I felt my fatherly instincts kick in without being overbearing. It was a nice feeling and I thought I may have exaggerated my earlier concerns.

For the rest of the holidays while Angie was home, we enjoyed ourselves. We spent Christmas with our parents, dividing the day between Sharon’s family and mine. For the most part things were normal, except that Sharon was constantly being texted and called from work colleagues. Over the last week they couldn’t seem to leave her alone, and she was always having to find a private place to take the calls. But overall things were in fact, better.

On New Year’s eve Angie went to spend time with her friends. Some of Sharon’s work colleagues had mentioned a New Year’s Eve Party at one of the larger Hotels downtown, and she wanted to go. I was feeling much better with our relationship over the last week, and when we were getting dressed to go out, I was happy to see that Sharon was wearing a dress that she had bought for our last anniversary dinner out. She dolled herself up just like she used to and seemed to be in a great mood. It was already 9pm by the time we left for the party. Sharon was already getting texts, and I asked.

“Who’s texting?”

She paused as she responded to it, and answered.

“Just someone from work asking if we’re coming”... “I said, yes”

She didn’t say who and I didn’t ask, but wondered why she didn’t volunteer the name.

It took another 15 minutes to arrive and park. When we walked into the hotel lounge I saw about a hundred people already there, with a DJ in the corner. We were greeted by a woman named Juliette Parks from corporate whom I had met before. I remembered her from the Christmas party, and I think she works in HR. She introduced us to Paul, her boyfriend. He was nice and about our age. The four of us mingled with others from the company that they knew.

We finally danced a few slow songs, and enjoyed a couple of drinks. It was now 11:15 and several of the company people had gathered around a large table on the outdoor patio. We were anticipating the fireworks celebration from downtown. Juliette suddenly put her arm up and called out toward the door, saying. “Hey, Nate, over here!”

I looked up and saw a someone I hadn’t met before, but remembered seeing at the Christmas party. He walked in our direction, and as he approached, someone slid a chair over for him to join the group. He stood while greeting everyone, and I finally put my hand out to introduce myself. We shook, and I introduced myself as Roger Evans, Sharon’s husband. He introduced himself as Nate Duncan, and manages the company’s Marketing Department. He sat across the table from us and everyone seemed to know him. Listening to the exchanges, it seems he’d only been with the company less than a year.

It was now 11:40 pm and the party was in full swing, and most of the guests already had too much to drink. One of my favorite songs came on and I asked Sharon to dance, but she turned me down, claiming she wasn’t in the mood. I understood, and let her continue chatting with her colleagues.

I was anxious for the New Year’s fireworks, but decided to make a quick run to the bathroom. I excused myself and left the table. It was only 4 minutes before I rejoined the party. I looked at my watch and saw it was now 11:50, only 10 minutes before the fireworks start. As I walked to the table I didn’t see Sharon, and noticed Nate was also missing. I glanced to the dance floor and saw Nate and Sharon all the way across the dance floor dancing a slow song. I took my seat and joined in the conversation about the fireworks to come. I couldn’t help but keep an eye on my wife. Even though they were on the far side of the dance floor I could still catch glimpses of them through the crowd. My heart sank as I saw her clinging to him with his arms around her. The worst was just before the song ended, his hand dropped to my wife’s ass, and I saw him take a squeeze.

The song ended and a minute later Nate came back and sat down, but Sharon wasn’t with him. It was a few minutes before Sharon walked up. Looking at me as she sat back down, she said...

“I decided I needed the ladies room, the drinks are running right through me.”

I didn’t know how to react. Was she purposely not mentioning the dance with Nate! Was she really hoping I hadn’t seen them on the dance floor, and accept that she’d been in the bathroom. She couldn’t possibly be hiding the dance, and the fact that Nate had squeezed her ass. I didn’t say anything and the conversation continued. The one thing I did notice, was now Nate wasn’t making eye contact with me, and the same with Sharon. I sat quietly as the minutes counted down. Finally at a minute before midnight the DJ announced the approaching new year. We all stood and walked to the edge of the patio facing where the downtown fireworks could be seen.

Sharon and I stood together with the others. Nate was standing between Sharon and Juliette. Juliette’s boyfriend had his arm around her waist as we waited for the countdown. I put my arm around Sharon, but I got no response from her. When the countdown started I pulled Sharon closer to me. She was looking out toward the city when the countdown reached 1. At exactly midnight the DJ announced, “Happy New Year”, and the first firework exploded in the air. The song began, and everyone with a partner turned to kiss. I reached for Sharon and she turned to me. I looked her in the eyes, and for the first time in 10 minutes she looked into my eyes. I said...